Dublin football star Diarmuid Connolly has dodged a jail sentence and criminal conviction for an unprovoked attack in a pub two years ago.

All-Ireland winner, Connolly, 26, had pleaded guilty earlier to assault causing harm to Anthony Kelly, who suffered a fractured eye-socket, at a pub in Phibsboro, in Dublin, in the early hours of August 6, 2012.

Judge Patrick Clyne said he was dismissing the case because Connolly had done all that had been asked of him through a series of restorative justice measures.

The judge noted the unreserved apology, which was accepted by Mr Kelly during a hearing last year at Dublin District Court.

Connolly, who has recently earned his first All Star award, had also paid €5,000 in compensation to the victim, who in turn donated the money to the court poor box, the judge said.

This sum was considerably greater than the maximum fine the district court could impose, the judge said in explaining his reasons for dismissing the case.

The St Vincent’s forward had also already complied with a court order to complete an anger-management course, the judge said as the case was finalised at Blanchardstown District Court.

In May, Judge Clyne had asked Connolly to do “80 hours’ voluntary service at GAA, dealing with children, over the summer months, teaching them, coaching them”.

The judge heard that Connolly, who has no previous convictions, had completed 82 hours.

Connolly, who is ranked among the top players in the country, had been in the St Vincent’s team on Monday which won the Dublin SFC final.

Diarmuid Connolly (Image: INPHO/Cathal Noonan)

He stood silently as the judge set out the reasons for dismissing the case.

In an outline of the prosecution’s evidence given earlier, the court had been told that the attack happened at 3.40am in McGowan’s pub.

Judge Clyne had heard: “It is alleged that the injured party was socialising with a friend, it would be alleged that the accused assaulted him in an unprovoked attack.”

Connolly, who has an address at Collins Park, Beaumont, north Dublin, “punched him in the face”.

The victim, who is in his thirties, was knocked down and Connolly then “continued to punch him on the ground”.

Mr Kelly suffered a fractured eye socket during the attack, but he has recovered, the district court has heard.